Why do Iraqi veterans deny that their war is like Vietnam, yet when they describe it--it is?

Question

An Iraqi veteran was asked on Hardball about Iraq if it was like Vietnam, and he said, "No, we are chasing the ghosts of Vietnam."

What he means is that the Iraq War is being wrongly compared to Vietnam ; yet, when he was discussing it with Chris Matthews, everything he said was the same things I, and other Vietnam vets, were saying about Vietnam.

He, and I'm paraphrasing now, said they couldn't recognize, effectively, who their enemy was because anyone could be. He said a little kid could be greeting you, and you didn't know if he had a frag or what in their hand. He went on to say the people back home didn't understand the war. He stated the good news about the war didn't reach America...

These were all things that were being said when I was in Vietnam thirty-five years ago.

Are we living in denial about what's happening in Iraq? Why did this man write a book that belied what he prefaced his interview on--that Iraq was not like Vietnam, yet what he said was?

Answer 1

One fascinating thing is to compare Robert McNamara press conferences about Vietnam with Rumsfeld conferences about Iraq. The parallels are striking.
W isn't looking quite as haggard as LBJ did, but wait... he's stuck there for two years. Unless he resigns.

I just noted Pachl, and I don't know what dream world he is living in, but it must have Fox News 24-7.
For the record, Vietnam had a constitution, functioning government, police force, military and infrastructure all in considerably better condition than Iraq is now.
As to the Aghanistan fantasy, most women are still under the control of misogynist warlords.
And while US troops have done construction, the infrastructure today (in terms of water and electricity) remains worse than it was back in 2002. Halliburtion is ripping off US taxpayers and giving the soldiers and people of Iraq zip in return.

By the Way: Gulf War I, Panama, Grenada, Lebanon, Vietnam (Khe Sanh, Hue), Korea, World War II, World War I, Spanish-American War, Civil War (Antietam, Gettsuyburg, First and Second Manassas), Mexican War, Blackhawk War, War of 1812, Barbary Pirates, American Revolution. And those are just the US fights.

Answer 2

I am instituting a new rule on Yahoo Answers: no more Vietnam analogies. Enough.

Making a comparison to Vietnam just highlights how little people know about history: it is painfully obvious that Vietnam is the ONLY battle they can cite by name.

In a short period of time, Iraq has drafted a constitution, elected a new government, has reconstituted its police force, and, along with the U.S., is rebuilding the entire infrastructure of the country.

Our soldiers are very proud of all their good work. They have literally freed millions of people from oppression. Women in Afghanistan now have rights they never dreamed were possible before. Our troops have helped build thousands of schools, dig new sewers, and other innumerable thankless tasks to allow these people to live in dignity.

There is absolutely no comparison.

Answer 3

via fact we're not functionally illiterate. considering the fact which you in all threat don't have all day to be sure something, right here is the quick version. "Secession" and "beginning a war" are no longer even comparable issues. Claiming in any different case is like claiming strolling out of your house is comparable to placing hearth to it. as with every hyperlinks any Democrat has ever published, yours DISPROVES your declare. no longer something you provided right here recommended war in any respect. needless to say slavery replaced right into a huge component to the inducement to SECEDE yet no longer A unmarried LINE of what you published or which would be got here across via chasing your link shows GOING TO war. NO State and NO guy or woman ever recommended "going to war to guard slavery." It basically never got here approximately - as YOUR materials make elementary.

Answer 4

Well, they are similar in that our biggest enemy is the US media. They are just to damn smart to chose sides in a conflict. Even though they sleep/write/complain under the blanket of freedom that our fighting men provide.

Answer 5

Denial

Vietnam was such a waste of life and money that soldiers and polititians dont want to think they are making the same mistakes the previous generation did.

but they are.

Answer 6

They didn't live our war, as we didn't live our fathers. They think their experiences are unique, but I hear the same thing you do.
By the way, Welcome Home, Brother.

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